Gear Watch Wednesday is a weekly update on the latest mountain bike gear releases and products that Singletracks has received for test. Have gear news to share, or products you’d like us to check out? Email [email protected].
Archer adds new shifter to electronic system
In case you forgot, Shimano and SRAM aren’t the only ones with electronic shifting systems. Heck, they weren’t even the first. Archer just announced the D1x Trail Shifter with a programmable paddle-style remote, and it’s said to work with any number of gears.
- Price: $199.
- Available from Archer Components.
e*thirteen Quick Fill Plasma Valves
On the heels of Reserve’s new Filmore valves, e*thirteen has a new set of valves that make some similarly large claims. Will they floss your teeth or do your taxes? Prolly not. However, the brand claims this new Quick Fill Plasma Valves will allow users to inject sealant without spilling it all over the place or popping the tire bead loose. The two-piece valves come in two lengths to suit most rim depths and five colors to suit a few aesthetic requirements. Sets of valves will retail for $24.99, except the intergalactic colorway that goes for $29.
- Price: $19-29.
- Available at e*thirteen.
Five Ten Shoes in new rainbow colors
It seems everyone has new mountain bike shoes lately, and leave it to Five Ten to steal the show with their new rainbow line of shoes. This season the Freeriders, Hellcats, and Sleuths are being offered in a new colorway that blends an electric blue, pulse lime, and fire engine red. On the other end of the spectrum, there are also more muted, earthy greens and crimsons that are new for the season as well.
- Price: $80+ ($150 for Five Ten Freerider Pro shoes pictured above)
- Available: Adidas.
Hydrapak Pioneer high-capacity reservoirs for epic rides
While the Pioneer series of packable 6L and 10L hydration reservoirs and accessories may be geared toward hikers and backpackers, mountain bikers heading into the backcountry for an extended period may also find them helpful. The new Camp-tap nozzle is designed to make filling bottles easier and an inline water filter (sold separately) means a nearly endless supply of hydration for bikepacking.
- Price: $63-65.
- Available: Hydrapak.
Kaden Chamois Shorts – Primo Maternity
ICYMI, women are riding bikes through all phases of their lives. In youth, older age, on the way to becoming CEO or parent, and post-Thanksgiving meals. Kaden Apparel’s newest product is a chamois designed with a tall belly band that stretches over a pregnant mother’s growing womb so she can keep riding as long as she feels comfortable. With an 8″ inseam and Italian chamois pad, these shorts can be worn beneath shorts, or alone for road, gravel, or indoor cycling. A regular women’s chamois shorts is also available for the same price.
- Price: $107.99
- Available at Kaden Apparel.
Lizard Skins Strata lock-on grip
Lizard Skins has a new single-sided, lock-on mountain bike handlebar grip called the Strata. The mushroom-gill-like pattern promises to be comfortable and is offered in a medium diameter, 32.25mm size.
- Price: $31.99
- Available (soon) from Lizard Skins.
Restrap Rear Top Tube Bag
Sometimes you need every bit of space you can get for hauling gear. The new Restrap Rear Top Tube Bag is designed to fit in a space that’s generally wasted, depending on whether you’re running a dropper and how far it drops.
- Price: $52.99
- Available at Restrap.
Rossignol mountain bikes will be available for online purchase in the USA
Rossignol just announced that their 2022 enduro, trail, and eMTB bikes will be available for direct purchase online in the USA. Prices for adult bikes start at $2,399 for the Mandate trail bike and range up to $6,399 for the Mandate e-bike. The brand also has junior models with 20- and 24-inch wheels for young riders.
- Price: $2,399 to $6,399
- Available at Rossignol.com.
Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket designed by mountain bike athlete Brooklyn Bell
Brooklyn Bell is a mountain bike and ski athlete based in Washington. Her recent collaboration with Rumpl depicts an abstract sunset on the Skyline Divide Trail in a refreshing color palette with flowy lines and organic mountain peaks. The blanket itself is made of 100% post-consumer recycled polyester shell and insulation, has a DWR finish, and thanks to handy cape clips, can be worn hands-free so you can easily assemble your campfire s’mores.
- Price: $129
- Available at Rumpl.
Saris Rack Dolly
OK, so this isn’t a new gear item, but it’s new to us. As bike racks add more trays, they’ve gained weight and are harder to move around. The Saris Rack Dolly should fit any 2-inch hitch rack, making it easier to drag it in and out of the garage.
- Price: $49.99
- Available online from Trek.
Smith Bobcat Sunglasses
That “so enduro” look doesn’t always work for smaller faces, and the Smith Bobcat is the smaller fun-duro version of the popular, goggle-like, enduro-sized Wildcat glasses. Now we can be in the cool kids club without glasses slipping off the ends of our noses! Seriously though, the Chromapop optics make everything clear and vibrant. There are also some new classy colors (navy, merlot, gold) to coordinate with their helmets.
- Price: $209 – $229
- Available: Smith Optics.
Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Kit Two Includes New Tire Lever + Disc Brake Tool
Wolf Tooth’s new 8-bit Kit Two contains three multi-tools: the 8-bit pack pliers with 17 functions (top left), an 8-bit chainbreaker and utility knife with tire plug kit (bottom right), and an 8-bit tire lever and disk brake tool with rotor truing slot and 8mm flare wrench (center). Designed and manufactured in the USA, these three tools stack and attach to each other using magnets and pins. If you had the first 8-bit Kit, you’ll want to add the new tire lever to complete the set.
- Price: $139.95
- Available from Wolf Tooth Components.
